Improvement in barbed-wire fences



J. H. WEAVER. Barbed-Wire Fence.

' No.22o,74o. Patented @11.21.1879.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES H. WEAVEIQOF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

IMPROVEMENT IN BARBED-WIRE FENCES.

Specification forming' part of Letters Patent No. 220,740, dated October 2l, 1879; application filed July 28, 1879.

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, JAMES H. WEAVER, of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Barbed- Wire Fences, of which the following, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a barbed-wire fence embodying my invention, Fig. 2, a perspective showing more fully and in detail the construction of the barb and of the fence-wires, and the method of combining them. Fig. 3 is a perspective showing a modication in the construction or arrangement of the fence-wires; and Figs. 4 and 5 are enlarged representations of the barb detached, Fig. 4 representing a face view of the barband Fig. 5 being a perspective showing the barb when made ready to be applied.

Like letters of reference indicate like parts.

My invention relates to barbed-wire fences, and consists in certain novel features of construction, substantially as hereinafter set forth, which I employ with the aim of facilitating the construction of fences of this class, and for the purpose of improving them in other respects.

A represents a dat sheet-metal barb of starshaped form, and having therein a central slot orA opening, a, and a slit, a', extending from the said opening to the edge of the barb, as shown, so that the edges formed by the said slit may be pressed apart laterally, as indicated in Fig. 5, to allow the barb to be placed upon a fencewire by ybeing pushed edgewise thereon until the wire enters the opening a, and to admit of the barb being fastened upon the wire by then pushing the said separated edges together, as indicated in Fig. 4, so that the wire will be fully encircled by the barb. The radial projections a" a, which give to the disk A its star-shaped form, serve as prongs, and, in conjunction with the opening a and slit a', adapt the said disk to serve as a barb for wire fences.

The wires of the fence may be arranged in different ways without exceeding the scope of my invention. ,For example, as represented in Fig. 1, in which B B indicate the wires, the upper and lower wires or rails are straight, while the intermediate wires are arranged to make diamond-shaped openings in the fence.

In the rst panel C the intermediate wires are represented as consisting of diamond-shaped links connected to each other by means of the barbs A A, some of which are arranged vertically and some horizontally, as shown. In the second panel the wires are all continuous, each extending entirely along the panel, and

Athe intermediate wires are looped alternately It will be perceived from the foregoing description and from reference to the drawings that the barb is simplein its construction, and may be applied and removed with facility. It will also be perceived that when the wires and. barbs are combined with each other sub stantially in the manner shown and described the barbs will be held iirmly in place in'such position that their points will project as they ought for the purpose intended, and that the barbs also serve as links to connect the intermediate wires with each other and the outer or upper and lower wires. It is also evident that the wires may intersect each other as well as merely meet. 4

I am aware that flat sheet-metal barbs having a central opening therein to receive the panel-wire have heretofore been made. I am also aware that sheet-metal barbs have heretofore been split from their edges inward, and that metallic barbs have been notched on their edges to receive the wires, the said notches being broad enough for that purpose, and being adapted to be pressed partly down upon the wire sufficiently to be retained thereon; but I know of no sheet-metal barb, except the one herein shown and described, having a central opening adapted to receive the fence-wire, and also entered or met by a mere cut or slit extending from the edge of the barb, thus adapting the barb to be applied by pressing apart the slit portion laterally until the wire can enter the central opening, and admitting oi' the barb being then closed upon the wire so as to wholly encircle it. l do not, therefore, here intend to claim either a central opening, or: a mere slit, or a notch in the edge of the barb, separately and independently of each other, as the union of the central opening and the slit in the same sheet-metal barb, A, having thereon the prongs a" a", and the combination thereof with the fence-wires, substantially as hereinafter specifically set forth, constitutes the essential feature of my invention, it being understood, of course, that the metal is snflciently flexible to be bent laterally, as and for the purpose described.

I am also aware that the wires of wire fences have heretofore been linked together by means of barbs; but I do not here intend to claim that feature of construction, broadly; but,

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The combination of the barb A, consisting of ilexible sheet metal, and having thereon the radial pointed projections or prongs a" a", and having therein the opening a and slit a', the lat ter severing the barb from its edge to the said opening, and the diagonal wires B B of a wire fence, when the said barbs -and wires are arranged substantially as shown and described with relation to cach other, for the purposes set forth.

JAMES H. WEAVER.

Witnesses:

GHAs. H. WEAVER, J. S. CURTISS. 

